Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-05-18
COL. DOM PIATTS BOOK.
MEMORIES OF THE MEN WHO
SAVED THE UNION"
Abraham Lincoln, Edwin NJ. Stanton,
Salmon p. Chase, william II. Seward
and George II. Thomas, the Rock of
Chickamaugua.

Especial Correspondence
New YORK, May7.
Under the title of "Memoiis of Men Who
Saved the Union," Col. Dom Piatt has writ
ten book, which has just been published by
Bedford, Clarke e. Co., New York and Chi
cago. As it is very well known that in what
Col. Piatt writes, readers will find something
the like of which they cannot possibly find
elsewhere, this book will be much read. No
body has ever accused the author of tame
ness or too fattering an estimate of others
On the contrary, he is known to have a genius
for removing the veneering of popular praise
from deified heroes and holding them up in
scant attire.
War literature is becoming more interest
ing year by year, and as the distance be-
! tween us and the days of strife widens, the
errors born of hate, prejudice and enthusi-
asm vanish before the wiser judgment of
time, and we get the truth. 1t is SO with
the fame of individuals well as events. The
DUST and smoke of personal prejudice must be
dlssipated before true understanding of
their work and character can be arrived at,
And the truth is sure TO be reached. 1t is
only necessary to wait with patience 1t
comes to the surface through the operation of
the law which the poet limited at when he
said that If it were crushed to ear.h it would
rise again.
No record of the days of the war is so i'm
portant as that which has been written by the
hands of men who took part in the conflict.
who saw it from within. Col Piatt was one of
these Filling position of honor with ability
and distinction, he was, he says, through tenn
permanent, more of a locker on than a partici-
pant. His horror OF war extinguished his per-
sonal ambition, leaving only a sense of duty to
hold bim to the service. "This," he says, "en-
aoled me to look at men and events from the
standpoint OF an observer. and, while claim
ing Tor myself no superiority of intellect. |
well know that my position enabled me to
coolly measure all that has right to his
tory"
Abraham Lincoln, Edwin NJ Stanton. Sal
mon p. Chase, William H. Seward and Gen.
eral George H. Thomas are the men whom
Mr.. Piatt has given place in his book. He
says:
u saw during the war what see now and
what VIII be recognized hereafter, when popular
passion shall have subsidized, and prejudice en-
gendered by deadly strife shall have disap-
peared, that the armed conflict of the civil var
was but one-third of the burthen imposed upon
the great and good men God called to power at
washington. 1t is strangely unjust to confine
our hero worship to the men of arms There is
something about the glare and flare of war that
oinds the common mind to the greatness that
lies back of its smoke and noise. The STRANGER
IN Washington, finding at every corner bronze
or marble warrior would suppose that we We're a
military power and had behind us grand wars
and great victories. Such stranger will be
amazed TO learn that we are nation of peaceful
aud
real war to commemorate; and as for victories
nearly all these majestic figures represent heroes
of defeat
In Col Piatts opinion, Gen. George H.
Thomas was the real hero OF the war. He
devotes nearly the half of his book TO hin,